With both campuses located in popular vacation destinations along two of Florida’s coastal area – UWF on the Emerald Coast of northwest Florida and Florida Tech along the Space Coast, from Titusville to Palm Bay along Interstate 95 and US Highway 1 – its was a natural creation for the only NCAA Division II football schools in the state to start the friendly rivalry as part of their conference season.

The teams will play for the Coastal Classic Trophy, which stands 24 inches tall on a six-inch wooden base. It features a large bronze anchor and 6-pointed ship’s wheel with nautical sailing rope as the focal point of the trophy. A small bell is attached to the anchor with a white segment of sailing rope attached its clapper.

COMPARING THE TEAMS

Offensively, both UWF and FIT will throw the ball quite a bit. In fact, these are the top two offenses in the Gulf South Conference with FIT averaging 513.5 yards per game and UWF at 455.8 ypg.

On the scoreboard, the Panthers are scoring 37.8 points per game with the Argonauts putting up 36.5 ppg.

On the defensive side of the ball, FIT allows just 307.3 ypg and 8.8 points per game, putting them 24th and second in the country, respectively. They have two shutouts and have allowed just seven points in the past 13 quarters.

UWF allows just a shade more yards to its opponents, yielding 322.2 ypg. The Argos are tied for first nationally with 5.8 sacks per game.

Saturday’s game will put two of the top rush defenses in the country on center stage in front of a national audience. UWF ranks No. 8 in Division II with 74.5 ypg and FIT is No. 3 at 54.8 ypg.

Three GSC Teams Ranked in Latest AFCA TOP 25 Poll

In the latest version of the AFCA Division II Poll, three GSC teams continue to be ranked in the Top 25. West Georgia remains at No. 3, while Florida Tech moved up to No. 16 and North Alabama climbed to No. 18.

The GSC is one of five conferences in the country to have three teams in the rankings, and one of just two conferences that have three teams in the Top 20.

West Georgia remained undefeated this weekend by earning a regional road victory at Albany State. Florida Tech currently has the top scoring offense and scoring defense in the league and was victorious this weekend against Division I-FCS Presbyterian.

North Alabama has now won back-toback conference games in convincing fashion, with the Lions’ most recent victory coming in Livingston, where they defeated GSC rival West Alabama, 45-7.